One of 99 Fish Chairs made by designer Satyendra Pakhale for Cappellini and showing in the Ammunn gallery at Design Miami. The limited-edition plastic lounge chair retails for about $2,200.
Emily Michot
Miami Herald Staff

One of 99 Fish Chairs made by designer Satyendra Pakhale for Cappellini and showing in the Ammunn gallery at Design Miami. The limited-edition plastic lounge chair retails for about $2,200.
Emily Michot
Miami Herald Staff

Design forecast: What’s hot

Lisa S. Roberts milled about the 10th edition of Design Miami/, taking in the curated collection of 20th- and 21st-century museum quality furniture, lighting and objets d’art, all meant to be beheld.

Like other design enthusiasts and collectors, Roberts saw the rows and rows of high-end selections. She also saw something else: possibilities, clues into what the prospective world of affordable, accessible design might look like.

“I am interested in seeing things I haven’t seen before, materials used in a new way and in things that push the boundaries and inspire conversations about the boundaries of art and design and functionality,’’ said Roberts, author of DesignPOP, a survey of 82 game-changing designs of the 21st century. “At Design Miami/ you can find items that may be copied in the future or will inspire new generations of ideas, or offer a seed of an idea that has mass appeal.”

That is part of Design Miami/’s broader mission.

“The fair has this interesting role in the world. Most of the things shown and sold are rare or prototypes or limited editions that don’t end up in lots of people’s home,’’ Rodman Primack, the fair’s director, said in an earlier Miami Herald interview. “But the ideas or concept do end up getting translated. Here you can see a trend that can end up at IKEA.’’

In a back corner of the fair, industrial designer Satyendra Pakhale discussed his own limited-edition Fish Chair displayed at Ammann Gallery.

“You want to create pieces that influence the future and inspire democratic designs,’’ Pakhale says. “Design Miami/ is like a creative lab where design can be researched and developed.”

Here is a peek at a few designs presented at the fair that may influence future design:

The Carlton bookcase, presented at Joe Sheftel Gallery and Koenig & Clinton at Design Miami. Originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1981, the bookcase is made of wood and plastic laminate.
Emily Michot
Miami Herald Staff